So there are some pretty cool high school football matchups going down in Class 4A this week.

Teams from all over are traveling far and wide to play others on different sides of the state. No. 7 Ankeny Centennial is trekking up to play Waterloo West, for example. Another: Southeast Polk is playing at No. 10 Iowa City West. A third: Waukee is playing at No. 6 Cedar Rapids Prairie.

There are more: No. 4 Cedar Falls will play at Ankeny on Friday. Ames will play at Iowa City High for the Little Cy-Hawk Trophy, and No. 8 Cedar Rapids Kennedy is coming to West Des Moines to play the third-ranked Valley Tigers. That last one is one of our picks this week.

This is a cool thing that schools need to do more often. We’ve seen it in the past — Valley and Bettendorf played a home-and-home the two years prior, and this will actually be the third consecutive year Southeast Polk and West play — and I hope we see more of it in the future.

These big programs from opposite sides of the state should play each other often. It builds excitement around the sport and gives the kids a different competitive flavor than the same area teams they play each year. As a general fan of the sport, it’s cool to see how other teams from other areas stack up against one another.

It’s fun, is the point here, and it should continue in the future. Not all of this week’s picks are those games, as there are plenty of intriguing matchups here in central Iowa once again. The readers tripped up last week, going 3-2. We’re split on two more games this week, so we’ll see if the readers can get that game back.

No. 1 Johnston vs. No. 5 Dowling Catholic

Analysis: The top-ranked Dragons have been solid through the first two weeks, but will need to be more than that in order to beat Dowling. This game was 13-10, Maroons, in the playoffs last season, and many key pieces from that contest return for this Week Three matchup. Dowling is also coming off a loss, and may come in without pressure because of it. Should be a great one.

Analysis: The high-flying Tigers return home to host Cedar Rapids Kennedy. These types of games need to happen more often, where a central Iowa power plays a strong program from eastern Iowa during the regular season. Kennedy is run-heavy, with both Cairron Hendred and Max White already with a combined 524 rushing yards. Another test for Valley’s defense.

Pick: No. 3 West Des Moines Valley, 27-10

Reader Vote: No. 3 West Des Moines Valley (75%)

Des Moines East vs. Des Moines Roosevelt

Buy Photo

Stephon Field, part of Des Moines East's one-two receiving punch, caught two touchdowns in a Week One loss to Des Moines Lincoln. Field, a senior, helped the Scarlets bounce back with a 44-0 win over Des Moines North in Week Two.(Photo: Scott Morgan/For the Register)

Analysis: Both of these teams lost to Lincoln during the first two weeks, which means this matchup is for the proverbial second place in the Des Moines city school standings. Roosevelt’s defense has been excellent through the first two weeks, but East playmakers Jalen Long and Stephon Field present many challenges for opposing defenses. Should be a fun game.

Pick: Des Moines East, 28-21

Reader Vote: Des Moines Roosevelt (59%)

Class 1A: No. 4 Iowa City Regina vs. No. 7 Pella Christian

Iowa City Regina and Pella Christian last met in the 2017 Class 1A state semifinals. The Regals won, 37-35.(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Analysis: Dropping down to Class 1A for these final two games. The last two times Iowa City Regina and Pella Christian met, it’s been a classic. The Regals won both times, a 45-43 barnburner in the state quarterfinals two years ago, and a 37-35 thriller at the UNI-Dome last season. Could we see another? The possibility exists.

Pick: No. 7 Pella Christian, 35-32

Reader Vote: No. 4 Iowa City Regina (72%)

Class 1A: No. 9 Panorama vs. Interstate 35

Buy Photo

Mason Cassady has been a four-year varsity player for the Interstate 35 football team. Cassady, pictured here as a freshman, rushed for 1,138 yards in 2017.(Photo: MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD)

Analysis: This one is a clash of two unbeaten 1A sides. Panorama joined our rankings this week after a second consecutive lopsided win thanks to the stellar play of quarterback Luke South. Interstate 35’s Mason Cassady has been brutal on opposing defenses for a couple of years now, but the Roadrunner defense has proven it's a force as well.

Pick: No. 9 Panorama, 35-14

Reader Vote: No. 9 Panorama (75%)

Last Week — Cody, 4-1; Readers, 3-2

Regular Season — Cody, 9-1; Readers, 8-2

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.